46 militants killed in US airstrikes in Afghanistan

Kabul: At least 46 militants were killed in airstrikes by the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, officials said on Tuesday.

“Acting upon intelligence reports, the drones of the coalition forces stormed the hideouts of Taliban rebels in Gomal district of the eastern Paktika province on Monday night killing 17 armed insurgents,” a provincial government official told Xinhua news agency.

In different airstrikes also launched by the coalition forces in the south-eastern Nangarhar province, 29 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed and a radio station belonging to the militant group was destroyed.

“The foreign forces conducted four air raids against IS positions in Achin district on Monday night, killing 29 militants and destroying an IS radio station,” the provincial government statement said.

The victims included five radio station workers and several high-ranking IS members, Xinhua news agency reported.

The district, bordering Pakistan, is considered to be an IS stronghold, the statement added.

US drones continued to hover over Jalalabad and Achin district on Tuesday morning.